Tonight in my college's chapel service, an illustration was used involving political liberals and conservatives. He gave the definitions as such:

Liberals -- believe that the original documents of our nation's founding should be interpreted through the lens of modern times

Conservatives -- believe that the documents should be applied in their original context to today


I may have gotten the terminology a bit skewed here. But I have studied different constitutional interpretations and understand that part. What I am wondering is if these definitions can be said to be actual definitions or are they instead simply an aspect of liberal / conservative philosophy.

Probably most people would not identify themselves as a liberal or a conservative based on these definitions. Besides the fact that many people have most likely not given that particular matter much thought, there are plenty of public policy issues to take a stance on one way or the other (your stances on a variety of them making up your "identity" as a liberal or conservative). However, can it all be traced back to what someone does, or would, think of interpreting the Framers?

Gahalyn